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Maybe. On Mercury, it seems the impact that created the Caloris basin [1] may also have created a seriously busted-up region at its antipode (opposite on the p
by ridgeguy 8y ago
Maybe.
On Mercury, it seems the impact that created the Caloris basin [1] may also have created a seriously busted-up region at its antipode (opposite on the planet from the impact) [2]. This may have happened due to shock waves propagating through Mercury's interior, focused by reflection at the planet's surface onto an area opposite the impact. There are alternate theories.
A few years ago, I looked into whether the Deccan Traps eruptions might have been either triggered or enhanced by similar antipodal seismic wave energy from the Chicxulub impact. Based on Earth's continental positions about 65M years ago, it seemed possible, maybe plausible. There were some papers discussing the possibility, but I don't have the data at hand.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloris_Planitia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloris_Planitia
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloris_Planitia#Antipodal_chaotic_terrain_and_global_effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloris_Planitia#Antipodal_cha...
- flukus 8y ago> A few years ago, I looked into whether the Deccan Traps eruptions might have been either triggered or enhanced by similar antipodal seismic wave energy from the Chicxulub impact. Based on Earth's continental positions about 65M years ago, it seemed possible, maybe plausible. There were some papers discussing the possibility, but I don't have the data at hand. Could it be worked backwards, there a re a number of flood basalts, some as recently as 10mya, is there any evidence of impacts for any others? Or is there some reason the Deccan traps stand out compared to the others?
- ridgeguy 8y agoGood idea. There may be enough impact and vulcanism events with reasonably good dating to search for the former as a cause of the latter.